"I'm afraid of death, idol," Anton smiled calmly, wiping the water droplets from his wand. "My life has always been so difficult, and I could be killed by a curse at any time."
"Then I realized that if you really want to live well, you have to forget about life and death."
Anton shrugged helplessly. "It's contradictory, right?"
"So," Anton raised his wand. "I've become someone who only does what I want to do, fearless of life and death!"
"Snape! Let's duel!"
"Today, it's either you die or I die!"
This was the second time Snape had heard Anton say this. Different emotions, but with the same unrestrained and unbridled spirit.
So, he flicked his wand, performing the rituals of a wizard's duel.
"I really admired your talent for Potions and looked forward to the day you could enter Hogwarts and become my student. What a pity."
"Invisible Sharpness!"
"Armor!" Anton quickly created a protective shield around himself, flicking his wrist with incredible speed. "Transfer Soul!"
Whoosh!
The spell's light pierced the sky, piercing Snape's sleeve and flying into the distance.
"Ah~~~~!"
a shrill cry rang out.
Anton dropped his wand and clawed at his head with both hands. The successful release of the Displacement Curse made him feel as if his entire head was about to split open.
He was already in excruciating pain from casting too many Shield Charms, and now the overload of the Displacement Curse was even worse than the Cruciatus Curse cast by the old wizard. He felt as if his entire body had been hollowed out.
Pain rippled from the depths of his soul, and he wanted to scratch but didn't know where to scratch.
"Very advanced..." Snape raised his sleeve in disbelief. "Dark magic!"
He stared in amazement at this child, who looked no more than ten years old. He had never seen such a brilliant talent before.
Ten years old!
Even those from pure-blood families hadn't yet awakened their magical powers.
He was even confident that the vast majority of young wizards graduating from Hogwarts couldn't cast a spell of this level!
And it was...
dark magic!
Snape's lips curled slightly. "I'll give you another chance then."
He flew again, instantly bypassing Anton, waving his wand at the werewolf. "Invisible Strike!"
"Armor!"
His spell was deflected again.
A voice, incredibly weak, came from beside him.
Snape turned around in astonishment.
He saw Anton sprawled on his broomstick, wand in hand, panting weakly and laughing.
Blood flowed from his ears.
Blood flowed from his eyes.
Blood flowed from his nostrils.
Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth.
But he just smiled, a smile that was exceptionally bright.
"Aha! Snape, my idol, you didn't expect I still have a wand!" Anton's face, pale as death, wore a smug smile, and he raised his eyebrows playfully.
Snape frowned. "You have to go to such lengths? Just to protect a werewolf?"
Anton smiled weakly. "That's a human. One, not a werewolf. Idol, your Chinese isn't up to par."
Snape smiled. It was the first time Anton had seen the slicked-back man smile. "You've earned my respect."
"Of course," Anton chuckled. "Someone called me charming!"
"Really..."
"Dizzy!"
The charming young wizard rolled his eyes and fell ungracefully from his broomstick. He was tied to his stomach by a rope, dangling from the broom, looking ridiculous.
"Wands!" The fallen wand and the floating wand flew up and landed in Snape's hands.
"Oh, you actually hid an extra one. How cunning!"
Snape sneered, casually inserting the two wands into Anton's hair. He then pulled a potion from his robes and poured it into Anton's mouth.
He pursed his lips, glanced at Anton, then at the howling werewolf on the small island...
He flicked the sleeve of his wizard robe.
With a thud, he vanished.
...
...
...
The sun was shining, the sea breeze was gentle.
A chill ran across his face, and an anxious voice called out beside his ear, "Little bastard? Little bastard?" "
Quit it." Anton waved his arms like he was shooing away flies, scratching his belly.
"Little bastard?" the voice continued.
"So noisy!" Anton muttered irritably.
Then, the voice suddenly grew louder, barking right at his ear, "Why are you sleeping? You'll have plenty of time to sleep after you die!"
Anton jolted awake and opened his eyes. "Teacher, I was wrong. I'll never..."
"Hahahaha." The old wizard pointed at Anton with his left hand, his head resting on his right hand, letting out a strange, cackle. "You have an interesting habit."
"Mmm!" Anton looked around uncomfortably. The sea was calm, everything was peaceful.
The rope tied to the broomstick, still floating in midair, was pinching his stomach.
He struggled to climb onto it, yanked the rope free, and pulled his wand from his hair. He paused for a moment, then suddenly cried out, "Lupin!"
The broomstick turned and dove down.
Lupin, pale, leaned against a piece of machinery, looking at him tenderly. "You've saved me again."
Anton looked quizzical. "I was planning on having you as my bodyguard and teacher."
Lupin smiled. "When I'm better, I'll be your bodyguard."
Seeing that Lupin was alright, Anton quickly raised his broomstick again and looked at the old wizard. "Where are Anna and Pedro?"
"Floating on the sea," the old wizard shrugged his headless shoulders. "It's a pity my foolish teacher isn't dead."
"..."
A huge plank of wood drifted on the sea. Pedro lay with his eyes closed. Anna sat beside him, clutching her suitcase tightly. She watched Anton descend through the clouds on his broomstick.
"Anton!" Anna exclaimed in delight, dropping her suitcase and rushing forward.
She hugged him tightly, "Great, you're okay!"
"I saw it all. You stood in front. You're a hero!"
Unable to resist, she kissed Anton on the cheek. Then, realizing what was happening, she shyly ran back, holding up her suitcase to shield her face, only to peer at him with wide eyes.
Anton, stunned, touched his damp cheek and met the old wizard's strange, teasing smile.
He gazed at Anna's delicate face, exhaled deeply, and warned himself not to refine copper.
It was shameful.
Then, with a bright smile, he looked at Anna and said, "I think we could be good friends."
Anna blinked her eyes. "Good friends?"
She smiled sweetly and nodded vigorously. "Okay, you'll be my best friend."
Anton finally breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been overthinking it.
He started to smile too.
Laughter echoed across the sea, the two survivors laughing loudly and far.
But Anton soon stopped laughing.
When he returned to the small island, pulling the large plank on his flying broom, he looked at the desolate ruins and patted his hungry stomach...
"Anna, it seems no one can live here anymore. How about we go to your house and rest for a while? You see, Pedro is a good friend of your father's."
Anna shook her head. "Yes, I can, but I don't know how to get back. The few family estates I know of are covered by powerful magic and can only be accessed through special spells. My father is away again."
Anton blinked. "How long will he be back?"
"Half a year?" "
So long!" Anton gasped. "He just left you here like that?" Anna looked a little frustrated, gently tapping a small stone with her toes. "Anna, I have a very strange disease. My father has been trying to find a cure. He travels all over the place, and I often don't see him more than a few times a year."
Blood-cursed orc!
Anton thought of this instantly and sighed.
After a moment of silence, he looked at the world blankly, not knowing where to go next.
Damn, why is he always troubled by this problem?